Yes but he doesn’t have the three magic letters beside his name. That’s all it comes down to. Just think. In the old days being distinguished with these lettters proved something. Now we live in an age of instant writing. People can see whether or not what you are saying is rational or has merit. I say we should simply boycott ‘professional’ scholarship. There are a number of examples were being a ‘professional’ is viewed negatively – sex being the most obvious.

Why should we boycott events like this? Because these people are too accomodating to the religious fanatics. Look at the list of scholars here. We all know who is the religious nut and who isn’t. But to sit at the same table as these lunatics and actually pretend that there is some ‘question’ of authenticity is simply absurd.

What is the crux of the argument against the discovery? It’s not the forger’s tremor because even Birger Pearson now recognizes that was done improperly. The ‘Morton Salt company’ reference? Come on. Perhaps it is the inherent ‘criminality’ of being homosexual? Sheesh.

The bottom line is that no one – not even the ‘professionals’ who have chosen to defend the text – has addressed the only question that matters here. Did Clement write the Letter to Theodore? As such the only people I want to hear from are experts on Clement and what they have to say. All these people do is respond to the religious lunatics (Carlson, Evans, Hurtado) in order to keep the debate going and having ‘accomplishments’ (published articles, attention) show up on their CV. I say stop the insanity. Stop the incestuous commingling that goes on in scholarship.

Until someone can come up with an argument to the contrary let’s assume the discovery was authentic. For it has been over fifty years and nothing of substance has been discovered (other than the possibility that the guy who discovered the text ‘might’ have been a little strange).

Let the religious zealots ignore the text. What else can they do? Are they going to change their minds? Of course not. But the continuous haggling back and forth only serves their aim (i.e. to justify ignoring the document).

We are not professional scholars. We don’t have to accept every customer that walks up to us and offers us $50 for a romp in the back of the car. I say ignore the conference, stop the insanity. We just have to say no.

Roger Viklunds blogg

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I will occasionally write in English as well, when I have something to say which I think could be of interest also for a wider audience. These posts can be found in ENGLISH POSTS in “Categories” below.